Credit: HBOEmilia Clarke, the actress known for her memorable performance as Daenerys Targaryen on the long-running HBO fantasy series, Game of Thrones is reportedly in final negotiations with Marvel Studios to join Secret Invasion. The Disney+ series, set to premiere sometime in 2022, has already announced that Samuel L. Jackson will be starring in the MCU streamer as his famous Avengers assembler, Nick Fury. Ben Mendelsohn was also previously announced as shapeshifting Skrull, Talos, reprising his Captain Marvel (2019) role.
Emilia Clarke’s expected addition to the hotly anticipated Marvel series will be her first role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though the specifics of her casting are currently still hush-hush. Kingsley Ben-Adir (One Night in Miami) is reportedly set to appear as the series’ main antagonist. Olivia Colman (The Crown) is also said to be in final negotiations for an unnamed role in the new series.
Emilia Clarke has received multiple Emmy nominations for her popular role as “Khaleesi” on Game of Thrones, which recently celebrated the 10-year “iron” anniversary of its premiere. Clarke is no stranger to big-budget tentpoles. She’s also had memorable turns as Sarah Connor in Terminator Genisys (2015), and as Qi’ra, Han Solo’s love interest in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018).
Secret Invasion from Marvel Studios will adapt the comic book storyline of the same name from 2008. Marvel’s official description of the comic book series signals that Secret Invasion will pick up on story elements from Captain Marvel, the Brie Larson vehicle that saw the MCU take a step back in time to introduce not only Captain Marvel’s origins but also the shape-shifting race of aliens, the Skrulls. From Marvel’s official description of the comic series:
While in the grips of paranoia, Earth’s mightiest heroes have to band together to fight off an armada of Skrull ships carrying an army of super-charged alien warriors! Traitors are exposed and lives are lost as the shape-shifting zealots lay claim to the planet, and only by compromising their ideals do the heroes stand a chance!
Next up for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Disney+, following the finale of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan) is the limited series, Loki starring Tom Hiddleston debuting on June 11th. What If…? an animated anthology series that remixes the MCU’s characters into all-new, alternate reality stories will feature voice acting from some of Marvel Studios’ biggest names, like Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), and Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk).What If…? will premiere later in 2021, but hasn’t set a release date.
Other streaming projects on deck for Marvel Studios include Hawkeye starring Jeremy Renner (2022), Ms. Marvel starring Iman Vellani (Late 2021), Moon Knight starring Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke (TBA), She-Hulk starring Tatiana Maslany (TBA), Ironheart starring Dominique Thorn (TBA), Armor Wars starring Don Cheadle (TBA), and I Am Groot (TBA).
Are you excited by this casting news? What character do you think Emilia Clarke will play?